Revelation 1:4-11 Seven Churches in Revelation

Ephesus was a Greek city an the west coast of what is today Turkey. The Turkish name is "Efes".

Ephesus had a long history in Greek philosophy, science, mathematics, etc. Paul writes to Ephesus (and Timothy, bishop of Ephesus) using ideas that would resonate with them.

More: City: Ephesus

Revelation 1:4 John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne; [kjv]

ιωαννης ταις επτα εκκλησιαις ταις εν τη ασια χαρις υμιν και ειρηνη απο ο ων και ο ην και ο ερχομενος και απο των επτα πνευματων α ενωπιον του θρονου αυτου [gnt]

Revelation 1:4

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KJV: John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne;

Greek: ιωαννης ταις επτα εκκλησιαις ταις εν τη ασια χαρις υμιν και ειρηνη απο του ο ων και ο ην και ο ερχομενος και απο των επτα πνευματων α εστιν ενωπιον του θρονου αυτου

Revelation 1:5 And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, [kjv]

και απο ιησου χριστου ο μαρτυς ο πιστος ο πρωτοτοκος των νεκρων και ο αρχων των βασιλεων της γης τω αγαπωντι ημας και λυσαντι ημας εκ των αμαρτιων ημων εν τω αιματι αυτου [gnt]

Revelation 1:5

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KJV: And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,

Greek: και απο ιησου χριστου ο μαρτυς ο πιστος ο πρωτοτοκος εκ των νεκρων και ο αρχων των βασιλεων της γης τω αγαπησαντι αγαπωντι ημας και λουσαντι λυσαντι ημας απο εκ των αμαρτιων ημων εν τω αιματι αυτου

Revelation 1:6 And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. [kjv]

Revelation 1:6

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KJV: And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

Greek: και εποιησεν ημας βασιλεις και βασιλειαν ιερεις τω θεω και πατρι αυτου αυτω η δοξα και το κρατος εις τους αιωνας των αιωνων αμην

Revelation 1:7 Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen. [kjv]

Revelation 1:7

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KJV: Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.

Greek: ιδου ερχεται μετα των νεφελων και οψεται αυτον πας οφθαλμος και οιτινες αυτον εξεκεντησαν και κοψονται επ αυτον πασαι αι φυλαι της γης ναι αμην

Revelation 1:8 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty. [kjv]

Revelation 1:8

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KJV: I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.

Greek: εγω ειμι το α αλφα και το ω αρχη και τελος λεγει ο κυριος ο θεος ο ων και ο ην και ο ερχομενος ο παντοκρατωρ

Revelation 1:9 I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ. [kjv]

Revelation 1:9

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KJV: I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.

Greek: εγω ιωαννης ο και αδελφος υμων και συγκοινωνος εν τη θλιψει και εν τη βασιλεια και υπομονη εν ιησου χριστου εγενομην εν τη νησω τη καλουμενη πατμω δια τον λογον του θεου και δια την μαρτυριαν ιησου χριστου

Revelation 1:10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet, [kjv]

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KJV: I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet,

Greek: εγενομην εν πνευματι εν τη κυριακη ημερα και ηκουσα οπισω μου φωνην μεγαλην ως σαλπιγγος

Revelation 1:11 Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea. [kjv]

λεγουσης ο βλεπεις γραψον εις βιβλιον και πεμψον ταις επτα εκκλησιαις εις εφεσον και εις σμυρναν και εις περγαμον και εις θυατειρα και εις σαρδεις και εις φιλαδελφειαν και εις λαοδικειαν [gnt]

In Revelation, John acts as a messenger telling us what Jesus says. The first few chapters are (short) letters to the Seven Churches in Revelation. Each is in a city in what is today Asia Minor.

Revelation 1:11 Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea. [kjv]

λεγουσης ο βλεπεις γραψον εις βιβλιον και πεμψον ταις επτα εκκλησιαις εις εφεσον και εις σμυρναν και εις περγαμον και εις θυατειρα και εις σαρδεις και εις φιλαδελφειαν και εις λαοδικειαν [gnt]

The seven letters to the seven churches of Revelation were written, from Jesus through John, to actual churches in Asia Minor (western Turkey today).

1. City: Ephesus
1. Ephesus: Revelation 2:1-7 Ephesus
2. City: Smyrna/Izmir
2. Smyrna: Revelation 2:8-11 Smyrna
3. Pergamum/Pergamus: Revelation 2:12-17 Pergamus
4. Thyatira: Revelation 2:18-29 Thyatira
5: Sardus: Revelation 3:1-6 Sardus
6. Philadelphia : Revelation 3:7-13 Word play in Philadelphia
7. Laodicea: Revelation 3:14-22 Laodicea
7. Revelation 3:15-16 Zesty hot and frigid cold

Revelation 1:11

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KJV: Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea.

Greek: λεγουσης εγω ειμι το α και το ω ο πρωτος και ο εσχατος και ο βλεπεις γραψον εις βιβλιον και πεμψον ταις επτα εκκλησιαις ταις εν ασια εις εις εφεσον και εις σμυρναν και εις περγαμον και εις θυατειρα και εις σαρδεις και εις φιλαδελφειαν και εις λαοδικειαν

Greek Ephesus is today called "Efes".
Greek Smyrna is today called "Izmir".
Greek Thyateira is today called "Akhisar".
Greek Sardis is today called "Sart".
Greek Philadelphia is today called "Alaşehir".
Greek Laodicea is today called "Denizli".

Ephesus was a Greek city an the west coast of what is today Turkey. The Turkish name is "Efes".

Ephesus had a long history in Greek philosophy, science, mathematics, etc. Paul writes to Ephesus (and Timothy, bishop of Ephesus) using ideas that would resonate with them.

More: City: Ephesus

The Greek for "Pergamus" means, literally, "mixed marriage".

More: Revelation 2:12-17 Pergamus

More: Revelation 2:18-29 Thyatira

More: Revelation 3:1-6 Sardus

More: Revelation 2:18-29 Thyatira

In Revelation, to the apostate church at Laodicea, where Jesus has to knock on the door because he is not allowed in, we have the following verse.

Revelation 3:19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. [kjv]

3:20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. [kjv]

More: Seeking damages from zealous jealousy

Revelation 3:19

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KJV: As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.

Greek: εγω οσους εαν φιλω ελεγχω και παιδευω ζηλωσον ζηλευε ουν και μετανοησον

Wycliffe: Y repreue, and chastise whom Y loue; therfor sue thou goode men, and do penaunce.

Tyndale: As many as I love I rebuke and chasten. Be fervent therfore and repet.

Revelation 3:20

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KJV: Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.

Greek: ιδου εστηκα επι την θυραν και κρουω εαν τις ακουση της φωνης μου και ανοιξη την θυραν εισελευσομαι προς αυτον και δειπνησω μετ αυτου και αυτος μετ εμου